Panic Disorder

Synonyms

Panic attack

Definition

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV-TR), panic disorder (PD) is an anxiety disorder that is defined by the experience of recurrent (two or more) uncured panic attacks. Following these attacks and for a period of at least 1 month, individuals must report experiencing concern about either having additional attacks, concern about the potential implications of having panic attacks (e.g., death), or significantly change their behavior because of the experience of panic attacks (e.g., avoidance of certain situations). In this context, panic attacks cannot occur in response to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., caffeine, marijuana), cannot be due to a general medical condition, and cannot be better accounted for by another mental disorder (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder). PD can occur in isolation, or in the presence of agoraphobia (i.e., anxiety about particular places or situations...